So, as a huge fan that doesn't own a PS4 but played the first one. Is the game worth it? Will it ruin my memories?
I really though back then that this game didn't need a sequel. I was so disappointed with MGS4 and I don't want to live through that again.
It's very much a mixed bag. The graphics are astonishing, with the kind of attention to detail that can only be attained by crushing the spirits of artists with 80 hour work weeks for 7 years.
The gameplay is solid, with AI that behaves in an engaging and varied enough of a capacity for you to have quite different playthroughs of the same section. This, by way of instant loading, is something that will really shine on the PS5, as there are some really great bits of level design dotted throughout the game. Although I find the need to scavenge for supplies means I'm always apprehensive about spending any of my resources.
But then there's the part of TLoU that everyone really cares about: the story. There are elements that are interesting and well done, but, on the whole, I think it's quite poor. Not nearly the travesty that certain vocal portions of the internet have made it out to be, but just ever so slightly shit.
Structure is mucked about with, in my opinion, to use complexity to create the illusion of depth. There is a very straightforward, linear story contained within this game, but the desperate need to elevate it to *dons beret* art *removes beret* strikes me as the main reason for its bloated storytelling, and the contrived nature of its non linear structure.
The story could have been half the length, just as deep, and imbued with greater emotional resonance by seeking to be emotive rather than clever. As it is, they presented a simple story in a complex manner; with a lot of superfluous elements.
Note that this flies in the face of the subdued, mature simplicity of the first game's story, but fits with the critical acclaim heaped upon it. Gaming media is chock full of illiterate morons, many of whom failed to realise that they were so impressed by TLoU1's story not because it was a particularly groundbreaking story, but because a simple story was told in a mature fashion, and treated its audience as capable, thinking adults.
It seems that Neil Druckman was a victim of his own success, maybe moreso his own hype. Better luck to him next time.
As for whether this game will ruin your memories of the first... possibly. I don't like any of the Alien movies as much as the first, but none of them spoil the first (although Prometheus comes close!) I also think the only decent Star Wars content is the original trilogy, but don't let the differently atrocious prequel and sequel trilogies spoil the original for me.
With that context established, I can safely say that TLoU2 exists in a similar capacity. It doesn't fundamentally spoil the one that I like, but it certainly doesn't enhance it, and it may just tarnish it a little.
v1.05
